This weekend the Federation of B.C. Naturalists is hosting its annual fall meeting in Whistler.
To engage the community, the local chapter of Whistler Naturalists is hosting three days of educational and inspirational events that are open to the public.
The action got underway on Friday morning with an educational bird walk and an all-day hike to measure the Wedgemount Glacier.
During the day they are three presentations at Millennium Place: Mountain Amphibians with Elke Wind from 10:30 to 11:20 a.m.; Harlequin Ducks with Ken Wright from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; and Mountain Insects with Derrick Marven from 2:30 to 3:20 p.m.
There is also a field trip into the Whistler Interpretive Forest with Don MacLaurin from 9 a.m. to noon, and a wetlands field trip with the Whistler Fisheries Stewardship Group from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Both events meet in the Tantalus Lodge lobby.
Friday evening will also feature the first ever Mountain Nature Photo Exhibition at Millennium Place, featuring slide shows by four local photographers. The doors open a 7 p.m., and the show will be followed by a social. Admission is by donation.
Saturday starts with early morning birding, from 6:30 to 8:30 a.m., meeting in the Tantalus Lodge lobby.
Saturday is a Alpine Nature Day, which runs from 9:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. There will be presentations at Whistler Mountain’s midstation on geology (Jack Souther), alpine bird migration (Kathy Martin), and alpine plant ecology (Bob Brett).
Lunch at the Roundhouse Lodge is not included.
Following lunch, a guided alpine field trip leaves from the Roundhouse Lodge at 12:30 p.m., led by Souther, Martin, Brett, Cathy Conroy, Mitch Sulkers, Derrick Marven and Lee Edwards.
Participants are reminded to wear warm, waterproof clothes and good boots for the alpine tour.
Meet for registration and upload outside of the Whistler gondola in the village before 9:15 a.m. Discounted lift tickets will be available for participants – $18 for adults, $16 for seniors and $4 for children.
That evening, Teppan Village will be hosting a special participants dinner for $25, from 6 to 8 p.m.
After dinner, Banff National Park wildlife specialist Tom Hurd will be giving a special presentation on the successes and setbacks in restoring large mammal populations in the park at the same time human encroachment is at an all-time high. The presentation starts at 8:30 p.m. and will be followed by the FBCN awards. Admission is by donation.
On Sunday, there will be a Squamish birding tour, starting at the Howe Sound Brew Pub at 8 a.m.
During the day, Morgan Wells of Mount Currie will be leading a public herbology walk around the Lost Lake area. The cost is $25 per person, and the walk is limited to just 15 participants.
Meet before 1 p.m. at the Lost Lake concession stand, or call Bob Brett at 604-932-8900 to book in advance.
One day registration for all of the events is available for $40, or $35 if you are already a member of the Whistler Naturalists. Non-members will receive a 2003 membership to the group, which hosts regular educational seminars and hikes in Whistler covering a wide range of naturalist topics.
